Stefanik, Blackburn Introduce Bills to End Cashless Bail in D.C. and Nationwide

 

House Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik introduced legislation to end cashless bail in Washington, D.C., and throughout the nation. Sen. Masha Blackburn has introduced the Senate companion versions. 

 

The Ending Cashless Bail in Our Nation’s Capital Act and the Keep Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Act would ban cashless bail in Washington, D.C., and would work to end it nationwide by prohibiting federal funds from going to support policies and Far Left officials who are releasing violent criminals back on the streets.

 

•   In August 2025, because of Gov. Kathy Hochul's Far Left policies, a Guatemalan national who, despite facing four felonies and two misdemeanors, is now free with no bail. Police said the accused criminal is responsible for 12 high school students being rushed to the hospital after they consumed gummies he sold them that were laced with dangerous and deadly drugs.

•   In 2022, a suspect on release and under indictment for a near-murder shooting of a 14-year-old boy in Washington, D.C. allegedly stabbed a person during an argument and fled the scene.

•   In August 2025, President Trump signed two executive orders to protect law-abiding citizens from the harms of cashless bail in Washington, D.C., and nationwide. Chairwoman Stefanik’s legislation would build on his efforts and make them permanent.

"Under Kathy Hochul's failed leadership, cashless bail policies in New York pose a clear and present danger to the Nation and must be terminated," said Chairwoman Stefanik. "Sen. Marsha Blackburn and I are working alongside President Trump to end the cashless bail disaster. We can’t allow arrested individuals who are awaiting trial to be released back onto the streets to commit more crimes against their communities."

“Cashless bail and other soft-on-crime policies have empowered violent criminals across our country, putting the lives of law-abiding citizens at risk,” said Senator Blackburn. “President Trump is leading the charge to restore law and order by ending these failed policies, and Congresswoman Stefanik and I are backing his efforts by introducing two bills to end cashless bail and keep violent offenders behind bars.”

“The National Association of Bail Agents & the NYS Bail Association are proud to stand with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik's bill to end cashless bail policies in DC and across the nation!” said Michelle Esquenazi, President of The National Association of Bail Agents. “We applaud Congresswoman Elise Stefanik's bold initiatives and leadership, and we are certain that this legislation will serve to protect the public safety of law-abiding citizens everywhere!”

BACKGROUND:

 

Under Kathy Hochul's leadership, failed bail reform policy is a staple of her administration. In 2020, New York implemented failed bail reform to eliminate cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies throughout the entire state. Far Left judges often use their discretion to expand the baseline of the policy to free criminals into our communities, which often applies to repeat offenders, violent crimes, or certain circumstances.

 

“Zero Bail” policy resulted in 163 percent more crime and 200 percent more violent crime compared to those who posted bail, a 2023 study out of Yolo County, California, found. 

 

Read the legislation HERE and HERE.

Government Announces Settlement With Manhattan Pharmacist For Unlawful Distribution Of Controlled Substances

 

Pharmacist Will Pay $100,000 and Be Barred for Seven Years From Owning or Operating a Pharmacy That Dispenses Controlled Substances After Admitting to Filling Oxycodone Prescriptions That Contained Red Flags

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Frank A. Tarentino, announced that the United States has settled a civil Controlled Substances Act lawsuit against JANELLE HARRIS, the owner and supervising pharmacist of THE PHARMACY @ LCC (“THE PHARMACY”), a now-defunct pharmacy that previously operated in Manhattan.  The settlement resolves claims that THE PHARMACY, under HARRIS’s supervision and direction, repeatedly filled prescriptions for controlled substances that contained “red flags”—warning signs that should have created a reasonable suspicion that the prescriptions were not legitimate. 

The Government’s Complaint alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act and asked the Court to order HARRIS to pay penalties pursuant to that statute.  Under the settlement, which was approved on Friday, September 5, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, HARRIS agreed to pay a total sum of $100,000.  The settlement amount is based on the Office’s assessment of HARRIS’s ability to pay based on financial information she provided.  HARRIS has also executed a Consent Judgment in the amount of $16,700,000, which may be enforced if she does not make the payments required under the settlement agreement.  As part of today’s court-ordered settlement, HARRIS is also barred for five years from serving as a supervising pharmacist, and for seven years from owning, controlling, operating, or managing a pharmacy that purchases, stores, or dispenses controlled substances.  HARRIS also made extensive factual admissions regarding her conduct. 

“Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals cannot turn a blind eye to opioid abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Pharmacists who recklessly ignore warning signs of diversion will be held accountable.” 

“Pharmacists are not exempt from their regulatory responsibilities, especially when dealing with controlled substances and the dangerous effects they have when misused,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino.  “This settlement reflects DEA’s commitment to making sure measures are in place to safeguard the community and hold DEA registrants accountable.  I commend our Diversion Investigators for bringing this matter to a resolution.”

As alleged in the Complaint:

Between 2014 through 2018 (the “Covered Period”), HARRIS, a pharmacist licensed in the State of New York, owned and operated THE PHARMACY and served as its head pharmacist.  As THE PHARMACY’s owner and head pharmacist, HARRIS had a duty to ensure that prescriptions filled at THE PHARMACY for controlled substances, including Schedule II controlled substances, were for a legitimate medical purpose before dispensing those drugs.  As part of this duty, HARRIS was required to look for “red flags” indicating that the prescribed controlled substances were at risk for abuse or diversion, or not for a legitimate medical purpose.

However, during the Covered Period, The Pharmacy, under HARRIS’s supervision and direction, repeatedly filled prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances, such as Oxycodone, that presented significant red flags.  Such red flags included cash payments by customers for Schedule II controlled substances, numerous prescriptions for a Schedule II controlled substance written by a single doctor, and prescriptions with semi-consecutive prescription numbers.  HARRIS and her supervisees ignored these red flags and failed to take sufficient steps to resolve them before filling the prescriptions.  Some of THE PHARMACY’s prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances, such as Oxycodone, were ultimately determined to be issued without a legitimate medical purpose.

As part of the settlement, HARRIS admitted and accepted responsibility for certain conduct alleged by the United States, including the following:

• HARRIS, as a pharmacist and owner of THE PHARMACY, had a duty to ensure that prescriptions filled at THE PHARMACY for controlled substances were for a legitimate medical purpose before dispensing. As part of this duty, HARRIS was required to look for “red flags” indicating that the controlled substances prescribed were at risk for abuse or diversion and/or not for a legitimate medical purpose. Such red flags include but are not limited to: prescriptions for high dosage strengths and/or for large quantities of controlled substances; cash payments for controlled substances; sequential prescription numbers; and multiple prescriptions for controlled substances to a single individual within a short period of time.
• During the Covered Period, HARRIS and/or employees of THE PHARMACY under her supervision filled prescriptions paid for in cash at THE PHARMACY for Schedule II controlled substances, such as Oxycodone, that were ultimately determined to be issued without a legitimate medical purpose and contained numerous red flags.
• For example, HARRIS, and/or employees of THE PHARMACY under her supervision, filled prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances that contained the following indicia of invalidity: over a four-month period, 114 of the 115 prescriptions written by a single doctor were for 120 tablets of Oxycodone 30mg. During this period, no one from THE PHARMACY called this doctor to confirm the validity of these prescriptions.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA.

California Man Sentenced for Role in Global Digital Asset Investment Scam Conspiracy Resulting in Theft of More than $36.9M from Victims

A California man was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for his role in laundering more than $36.9 million from victims in an international digital asset investment scam conspiracy that was carried out from scam centers in Cambodia. The court also ordered him to pay $26,867,242.44 in restitution to victims.

“The defendant was part of a group of co-conspirators that preyed on American investors by promising them high returns on supposed digital asset investments when, in fact, they stole nearly $37 million from U.S. victims using Cambodian scam centers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Foreign scam centers, purporting to offer investments in digital assets have, unfortunately, proliferated. The Criminal Division is committed to bringing to justice those that steal from American investors, wherever the fraudsters may be located.”

“This defendant will spend years in federal prison for participating in a conspiracy in which victims lost tens of millions of dollars, starting with the simple step of responding to unsolicited messages on their phones,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “The public should always remember to be vigilant and wary of strangers marketing promising investment opportunities. Your retirement fund or children’s college money may depend on it.”

Shengsheng He, 39, of La Puente, California, a former co-owner of the Bahamas-based Axis Digital Limited, pleaded guilty in the Central District of California to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business on April 10. 

According to court documents, He was part of an international criminal network that induced U.S. victims to transfer funds to accounts controlled by co-conspirators who then laundered victim money through U.S. shell companies, international bank accounts, and digital asset wallets.

As part of the conspiracy, co-conspirators residing overseas would contact U.S. victims directly through unsolicited social media interactions, telephone calls, text messages, and online dating services to gain the victims’ trust. The co-conspirators then promoted fraudulent digital asset investments to the victims. Scammers would tell victims that their investments were appreciating in value when, in fact, the funds the victims sent to the scammers had been stolen. More than $36.9 million in victim funds were transferred from U.S. bank accounts controlled by the co-conspirators to a single account at Deltec Bank in the Bahamas, opened in the name of Axis Digital Limited. He and other co-conspirators directed Deltec Bank to convert victim funds to the stablecoin Tether (USDT) and to transfer the converted funds to a digital asset wallet controlled by individuals in Cambodia. From there, co-conspirators in Cambodia transferred the USDT to the leaders of scam centers throughout the region including in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

Eight co-conspirators have pleaded guilty so far, including Daren Li, a national of China and St. Kitts and Nevis who has been in U.S. custody since April 2024, and Lu Zhang, a Chinese national illegally in the United States who managed a network of U.S.-based money launderers. Li and Zhang each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on Nov.12, 2024, and May 13, 2024, respectively.

He co-founded Axis Digital with defendant Jose Somarriba. Chinese national Jingliang Su joined Axis Digital as a director and participated in the digital asset conversions and transfers of victim funds. Somarriba and Su each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business on April 14, and June 9, respectively.

USSS’s Global Investigative Operations Center is investigating the case. The Homeland Security Investigations’ El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Dominican National Police, and U.S. Marshals Service provided valuable assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maxwell Coll and Alexander Gorin of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, Nisha Chandran of the Major Frauds Section, and Trial Attorney Stefanie Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted this case.

CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.

If you or someone you know is a victim of a digital asset investment fraud, report it to IC3.gov.  

DOE Flunks in Comptroller Lander’s Audit of English Language Learning Services

 

Audit finds DOE’s failures denied legally mandated services to thousands of students disproportionately impacting Spanish, Russian, Bengali, and Arabic-speaking communities

In a new audit released at the start of the school year, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander reveals system-wide non-compliance and profound failures in the Department of Education’s (DOE) English Language Learners (ELLs) services, which denied legally mandated services to thousands of students. These failures disproportionately impact Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bengali, and Arabic-speaking communities, with Spanish-speaking students representing 67 percent of all ELLs.

“In the world’s greatest city of immigrants, English Language Learner programs are the cornerstone of the City’s work to deliver equal access for all students, no matter what language they speak or where they come from,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “Our audit finds that the DOE routinely denied this promise to thousands of young New Yorkers and their families—many who yearn to integrate into their schools, their communities, and the city. As families go back to school, City Hall has both a legal obligation to comply with state statutes and a moral obligation to provide an equal opportunity to learn.”

New York State requires school districts, which includes DOE, that receive foundation aid to provide ELL students with equal access to all school programs and services offered to non-ELL students. State law and regulations define ELLs as students who speak or understand a language other than English, speak or understand little or no English, and require support to become proficient in English. New York State Education Department regulations, known as CR Part 154, govern a process that must identify ELLs, which must be performed when a student initially enrolls in or reenters a public school.

The audit found that DOE denied legally required courses or instructional minutes to 48 percent of sampled ELL students. A shocking 40 percent of sampled students were taught by teachers not fully qualified to teach ELLs. These systemic breakdowns left students without required courses, sufficient instructional time, and instruction from properly credentialed teachers. The City’s ELL population’s grew from 148,933 to 174,014 students over the last three years, marking a 16.8 percent increase.

The audit assessed the DOE’s compliance with state laws designed to ensure equal educational access. The audit underscores that the agency’s failures to provide fully qualified teachers, appropriate instruction, and legally required bilingual programs worsen longstanding inequities for students of color. DOE’s failures disproportionately left behind Spanish-speaking students, who represent 67 percent of all ELLs, alongside large numbers of Chinese, Russian, Bengali, and Arabic-speaking students.

The comprehensive audit builds on the Office’s work to sound the alarm on the City’s failure to adequately resource schools with asylum seekers in 2022 and its deficient special education services in 2023.

Key Findings from the Audit:

• Widespread Instruction Shortfalls: Schools did not provide 48% of sampled ELL students with the legally required courses or the minimum instructional minutes, crippling students’ language development and academic progress.
• Improper Denial of Bilingual Programs: The DOE filed 146 waiver requests to avoid creating mandated Bilingual Education Programs, exceeding the state’s five-year waiver cap. This disproportionately denied access for:
  • Russian-speaking communities: 41 improper waivers impacted 3,200 students, largely in Brooklyn Districts 20, 21, and 22.
  • Bengali-speaking communities: 31 improper waivers impacted 2,456 students across Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens.
  • Arabic-speaking communities: 16 improper waivers impacted 1,168 students.
  • Uzbek communities: 14 improper waivers impacted 654 students.
  • Haitian-Creole communities: 14 improper waivers impacted 525 students.
• Unqualified Instructors: 40% of sampled ELL students were taught by one or more teachers without the required certifications.
• Parental Rights Ignored: The DOE failed to maintain critical records for 31% of sampled students, providing no evidence that DOE informed parents of their rights in their preferred language, eroding trust and access for all families.

The audit also identifies areas for improvement, including expanding bilingual programs, recruiting qualified teachers, and fixing broken communication with families.

• Waiver Abuse: The DOE must correct its use of waivers and expand bilingual programs in high-demand districts like South Brooklyn and Queens.
• Teacher Recruitment & Certification: The DOE has no effective system to ensure students are taught by qualified teachers and must urgently recruit and certify educators for high-need languages like Arabic, Bengali, and Russian.

To address the findings and rectify these failures, the audit proposes that the DOE:

1. Finalizes rules for implementing a tracking and monitoring system for Bilingual Education and English as a New Language (ENL) Programs to ensure schools adequately serve students.
2. Implements and further develop a system to monitor ENL units of study to ensure that students receive all required ENL minutes by a certified ENL teacher, in compliance with CR-Part 154.
3. Continues their efforts to recruit more qualified teachers for English Language Learners program classes and encourage current DOE personnel to obtain the required certifications to become ELL-certified educators.
4. Develops a centralized system for tracking teachers Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) hours, to ensure that they receive the minimum 50% of required professional development hours, as outlined in CR Part 154. Additionally, DOE should designate a team to monitor CTLE compliance and provide periodic status reports.Continues to conduct regular audits and inspections during ML/ELL School Support Survey visits to ensure completion of all required ELL-critical documentation at the school-level, including retaining students’ cumulative records and accurately entering in ATS.
5. Improves oversight of waiver requests, evaluate recruitment efforts, and expand bilingual programs in high-demand districts to reduce reliance on waivers and ensure ELL students receive appropriate language services.
6. Implements standardized procedures to ensure that all schools provide complete and accurate ELL program information to parents/guardians in Parent Survey and Program Agreement Forms.
7. Establishes a centralized process to collect, analyze, and act on data from the Parent Survey and Program Agreement Forms across all schools.
8. Develops and implements a centralized tracking system for waitlist and transfer requests in ATS and enhance oversight to ensure all bilingual program preferences are honored timely.
9. Implements a school-level monitoring system to ensure completed ELL identification processes in accordance with their Policy and Reference Guide and CR Part 154.

“The Comptroller’s audit highlights challenges we also hear from the families we serve — many parents are unaware of their children’s ELL status or what supports should be in place, and others worry that their children are not receiving adequate help to learn English. We encourage NYCPS to engage parents by holding mandated ELL parent meetings and to ensure every student is identified immediately upon enrollment and served by licensed ENL teachers,” said Rita Rodriguez-Engberg, Immigrant Students’ Rights Project Director at Advocates for Children of New York.

MAYOR ADAMS UNVEILS “GROUND ZERO 360” ART INSTALLATION IN CITY HALL ROTUNDA

 

Traveling Exhibitions Honors Victims of September 11^th Attacks on New York City

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today unveiled the “Ground Zero 360” art installation, which honors victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York City, in the City Hall Rotunda. The exhibition — which has visited over 60 cities during the last 14 years — uses photography, artifacts, and artwork to tell the stories of the 9/11 victims and their families. It showcases themes of courage, loss, and resilience during and following the attacks and provides a space for remembrance and unity.

“More than two decades ago, we promised that we would never forget, and this collection of photographs, paintings, and artifacts is one the countless ways we remember. These images of dust, darkness, sorrow, and exhaustion call us back to the sacrifices and struggles made by so many New Yorkers on that day and in the years that followed,” said Mayor Adams. “While we rebuilt our city and our lives together, we will always remember those who gave their all for this city. Thank you to ‘Ground Zero 360’ for sharing these images and artifacts with all the world and keeping the flame of memory burning bright.”

Ground Zero 360 — which comes ahead of the 24^th anniversary of the September 11^th attacks — honors the resilience, unity, and sacrifice of New York City after the September 11, 2001 attacks. The exhibition ensures the heroism of so many New Yorkers is never forgotten and reinforces the city’s ongoing commitment to remembrance.

“On 9/11, we witnessed unimaginable loss and extraordinary courage,” said Paul McCormick, CEO, Ground Zero 360. “Ground Zero 360 honors the lives taken, the sacrifice of first responders, and the unity that defined New York in its darkest hour.”

DHS Scores Major Victory at Supreme Court

 

The Supreme Court ruled the Trump Administration can continue operations in Los Angeles to remove dangerous criminal illegal aliens from the streets

The Department of Homeland Security landed a major legal victory Monday morning when the Supreme Court issued a stay in the case of Perdomo v. Noem. The ruling allows DHS to continue carrying out immigration operations in the Los Angeles area.

“This is a win for the safety of Californians and the rule of law,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “DHS law enforcement will not be slowed down and will continue to arrest and remove the murderers, rapists, gang members, and other criminal illegal aliens that Karen Bass continues to give safe harbor.”

The court ruled 6-3 in favor of the Trump Administration. With its decision, the court stayed a ruling by federal judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong in July blocking DHS from conducting immigration sweeps in Southern California. 

To the mainstream media’s chagrin, there are no “indiscriminate stops” being made. The Supreme Court simply applied longstanding precedent regarding what qualifies as “reasonable suspicion” under the Fourth Amendment. What makes someone a target of ICE is if they are illegally in the U.S. DHS enforces federal immigration law without fear, favor, or prejudice.

In his opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s discussed the federal government’s duty to enforce immigration laws on the books and the fact that the Judicial Branch does NOT make those laws: 

• “The fact remains that, under the laws passed by Congress and the President, [illegal aliens] are acting illegally by remaining in the United States – at least unless Congress and the President choose some other legislative approach to legalize some or all of those individuals now illegally present in the country. And by illegally immigrating into and remaining in the country, they are not only violating the immigration laws, but also jumping in front of those noncitizens who follow the rules and wait in line to immigrate into the United States through the legal immigration process.” 

• “[I]t is also important to stress the proper role of the Judiciary. The Judiciary does not set immigration policy or decide enforcement priorities. It should come as no surprise that some Administrations may be more laissez-faire in enforcing immigration law, and other Administrations more strict. Article III judges may have views on which policy approach is better or fairer. But judges are not appointed to make those policy calls.”

DEA Surge Targets Sinaloa Cartel Networks Worldwide

 

Today, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced the results of a week-long operational surge aimed at dismantling the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world’s most violent and powerful drug cartels, responsible for flooding the United States with fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin.

In February, the Trump Administration designated the Sinaloa Cartel, along with seven other groups, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The Sinaloa Cartel remains one of the most significant threats to public safety, public health and our national security.  DEA is committed to breaking their command, control, and distribution networks. 

From August 25 through August 29, 2025, DEA agents across 23 domestic field divisions and seven foreign regions carried out coordinated enforcement actions that resulted in:

• Arrests: 617
• Drug Seizures:
  • 480 kilograms of fentanyl powder,
  • 714,707 counterfeit pills,
  • 2,209 kilograms of methamphetamine,
  • 7,469 kilograms of cocaine, and
  • 16.55 kilograms of heroin
• Currency Seizures: $11,111,483
• Assets seized: $1,697,313
• Firearms: 420

There are tens of thousands of Sinaloa members, associates, and facilitators operating worldwide, in at least 40 countries who are responsible for the production, manufacturing, distribution, and operations related to trafficking dangerous and deadly synthetic drugs. 

This coordinated action was a combination of DEA’s increased focus on enforcement, intelligence, and domestic and international collaboration, utilizing every resource in DEA’s arsenal to degrade the Sinaloa Cartel’s command and control.

This surge reflects DEA’s unwavering commitment to confronting the fentanyl crisis and dismantling the cartels responsible for it. DEA continues to take decisive actions to protect American families and communities.

As part of a larger whole-of-government approach to dismantling the Sinaloa Cartel and protecting U.S. communities, DEA is committed to working with the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) and other federal partners to ensure current and future operations advance broader U.S. efforts to combat designated terrorist organizations and transnational organized crime.

Joint Statement from Speaker Adrienne Adams, Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, Criminal Justice Chair Sandy Nurse, and Immigration Chair Alexa Avilés on New York State Supreme Court’s Final Ruling Blocking Trump’s ICE Office on Rikers

 

Today, New York State Supreme Court Justice Mary Rosado issued a final decision declaring Mayor Adams’ administration’s Executive Order 50 illegal, blocking the reopening of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office on Rikers Island. Judge Rosado previously issued a preliminary injunction and Interim Temporary Restraining Order prohibiting the execution and negotiation of any Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) related to the executive order. In response to the final decision, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, Criminal Justice Committee Chair Sandy Nurse, and Immigration Committee Chair Alexa Avilés issued the following joint statement.

“Today’s final court decision rejecting Mayor Adams’ corrupt bargain with Trump to open an ICE office on Rikers Island as illegal is a major win. It strengthens public safety in our city and the Constitutional rights of all New Yorkers. Trump’s political agenda of using ICE to disappear residents without due process and separate families harms our communities and undermines our collective safety. We’re pleased that the court recognized Mayor Adams and Randy Mastro’s attempt to do Trump’s bidding and betray their obligation to New Yorkers as unlawful. This decision protects the civil rights of all New Yorkers from being violated and makes our city safer.”